When it comes to pests, size doesn’t matter. Like the flea, even though it’s among the tiniest of pests, it can make life a living hell.
If animals could talk, they’d tell you how much they hate fleas.
So, why are fleas so bad and hated anyways?
Fleas belong to the same cursed brood of pests whose job is to cause as much harm as possible. They won’t stop until and unless they are hunted down and eradicated!
Some of the reasons why fleas are considered a nuisance are as follows:
- They latch on to a host to suck their blood.
- Flea bites spread infections and diseases.
- They breed like crazy and spread all over the body.
- Being the tiniest of pests, they are difficult to deal with.
Fleas can be dangerous to any living organism they attach to, including humans!
Even though they mostly live on animals, they can also attach themselves to humans.
Let’s get into why fleas are the vampires of the pest world and not the good kind!
4 Reasons Why Are Fleas Menace
Fleas are often ignored due to their small size and a few itchy bites.
People think rats, cockroaches, and other bigger pests pose a greater threat. Yes, they are harmful if left unchecked, but the same goes for fleas.
These minute insects can cause problems worth writing on an entire laundry list!
Did you know fleas were responsible for spreading the worst infection in human history, also known as the Bubonic Plague or the Black Death? It killed over 50 million people across Europe and Asia in the 14th century!
Do you still think fleas are harmless? Hope not!
Here are some of the reasons why fleas are a menace:
1. They Latch On to a Host To Suck Their Blood
Fleas love hairy and bushy animals. This allows them to hide and do their vampiric duties in peace.
The problem is, they don’t just do their share of blood-sucking and get off; they live on the animals as uninvited guest pests!
Their constant biting results in some of the most common diseases caused by fleas, such as:
Flea Bite Anemia
This is when the blood-sucking infestation has reached a level where the host no longer has enough red blood cells to remain healthy.
Tapeworms
Fleas come with a family of parasites, one of which is the tapeworm.
The fleas inject these parasites into the animal, resulting in some serious health issues.
Flea Bite Dermatitis
The flea likes to spread its saliva all over the place, so if your pet is scratching incessantly with red rashes and spots on its skin, it is due to an allergic reaction to the flea’s saliva.
2. Flea Bites Spread Infections and Diseases
Fleas don’t discriminate regarding which animal they’d like to live on. Rats, raccoons, cats, dogs, deer, you name it; all these animals are considered fair game.
This is where fleas can jump from one animal to another, carrying the most dangerous infections and diseases.
Fleas don’t have wings, but their athletic legs allow them to jump 7 inches vertically and 12 inches horizontally! This makes them Olympic-level jumpers in the insect world!
Fleas carry parasites that they can inject into their host, leading to diseases such as:
Bartonella
This bacteria can cause severe problems in cats, dogs, and even humans.
Health symptoms in animals include seizures, eye inflammation, and heart problems.
It can cause severe muscle pain, eye infection, and brain swelling in humans.
Bubonic Plague
This plague was responsible for almost wiping out the human race back in the 14th and 16th centuries.
Even now, there are rare cases in remote agricultural areas.
And the root cause of the spreading of this disease was fleas!
Typhus
Typhus fever is caused by certain bacteria injected into humans and animals by fleas.
It can result in high fever, diarrhea, coughing, and stomach ache.
3. They Breed Like Crazy and Spread Out
When it comes to fleas, if you notice even one of them, exterminate it immediately!
These pesty insects breed in the thousands, with a single female able to lay more than 2000 eggs in her entire life!
Imagine having that many eggs on your pet’s body, just waiting to hatch and wreak havoc all over the place!
A single flea can lay as many as 50 eggs daily; that’s 1500 eggs every month! Thankfully the eggs are not sticky, so most of them may fall off and wither.
4. Fleas Are Difficult To Deal With
To get rid of these blood-suckers, you need to ascertain the level of infestation. If they have been there for a long time, chances are they’ll be in large numbers.
Because there are 4 stages in the lifecycle of a flea, even if you get rid of the adult ones, there are still eggs, larvae, and pupae left behind.
Not every flea treatment will give you the same results, so choosing the right procedure to eliminate these parasitic nuisances can be confusing.
Summary
Now that you know the dangers of a flea infestation, you won’t take these tiny insectoid vampires so lightly.
Here’s a reminder of why fleas are considered to be so bad:
- They latch on to a host to suck their blood.
- Flea bites spread infections and diseases.
- They breed like crazy and spread all over the body.
- Fleas are tenacious pests and are difficult to deal with.
Remember, if you spot a flea, it’s time to act fast and stop its breeding cycle, so they don’t spread out.
If you don’t get rid of them ASAP, chances are fleas may become your most hated pests in the world!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Get Rid of Fleas on Your Pet?
If you find fleas on your pet, you can use the following methods to get rid of them:
- Use a pet-safe spray.
- Apply a topical prescription.
- Give oral prescription.
- Make use of flea shampoo.
- Use a flea comb to catch and kill them.
There Are Fleas in My House; What To Do Now?
With a flea infestation in your home, you should start immediately by cleaning the area and its surroundings, precisely where you spotted the flea. You can do the following:
- Clean all the upholstery and the carpets with a steam cleaner.
- Put all bedding in hot water and disinfectant detergent solution for washing.
- Suck up the blood suckers with a powerful vacuum cleaner.
